Tools

Links

Fins

The SKWIM fins and the FINIS PDF fins are similar, but not identical.

The fins are soft and comfortable, but have good propulsion. The fins add 20-to-30-percent to your overall swimming speed, maneuverability and safety in the water. SKWIM Fins are designed for everyone, especially the fin-swimming beginner.</p><p>Available in eight (8) sizes. The colors of the blade (blue in this example) vary according to the various sizes. The heel color, yellow, is the same for all the sizes.

Full foot, short-blade, rounded, official SKWIM fins. Available for sale at eLifeguard.com and the online shop of The American Red Cross.

Bottom of full foot fins. The size of the fins are imprinted / embossed within the underside of the fin. Click image for larger view.

When we go to the public pool with our camper kids, we give them fins. They love them and wear them all day.

SKWIM fins are round and short. Some are full foot. Others are with a strap.

Swimmers on pool deck at Ammon with swim fins and SKWIM in background

These fins float. So, taking them into open water conditions is okay as they won't get lost and drop to the bottom of the river, lake or ocean as other fins do. It is a drag to drop a fin and have it sink and lost forever.

The full foot fins are designed for pool and for calmer open-water use. In surf conditions, Use the adjustable strap <strong>Life Rescue and Surf Rescue Fins</strong> by <a href="http://www.eLifeguard.com">eLifeguard</a>. Fins offer great benefits in navigating open-water surges, beach-break currents and surf rip-streams.

Question: I’m assuming you’ve tried long and short blade ones as well. Any insight on how you reached the conclusion that PDFs are the best for learn to swim programs.

Lots of reasons.

Can't do egg-beater kicking with long fins. We want to play games and being able to turn, twist, change directions and use the core in the water is necessary. Long fin use makes bad habits for transitioning to water polo and egg beater kicking.

I love coaching the I.M. I want the swimmers to swim all four strokes. The PDF fins help with breastroke kicking too.

Kids are going to walk on the deck with the fins, or step on the block. Short fins are not ideal, but long fins are face-plant in one step.

Likewise, kids need to get to vertical and walk on the bottom of the pool. With short fins, it is hard, but possible.

Fins need to float. These do.

Size by color is necessary for easier grab and go.

The fins with the strap are forgiving with different foot sizes. We can always get a pair for the kids to work as we can untie and retie the strap as needed.

The gains with short fins in propulsion are significant, but not over-powering.

Rant on fins from Mark Rauterkus for Jason P's podcast

PDF fins get a good mention in an equipment feature at GoSwim.TV

Transcript: "My fins, I used these for years and years and years, the PDF fins by Finis.One of the reasons I love them so much, you can kick breaststroke with them.Why any other fins and start it fall???I love the Alpha fins. You know I love the Alpha fins.But as a breaststroker... I don't know.I'm going to get in trouble with one of my best friends, Paul who designed the Alpha fins."

Watch GoSwim.TV and see what type of fins he enjoys for "years and years."

Timing System

Suits

Goals! The truck is another wonderful tool and resource too.

The BGC truck hauls water polo goals around town. Here it is in the Pittsburgh Hill District outside the Thelma Lovette YMCA.

Boats and small crafts

Don't find yourself up the creek without one of these.

<img class="wp-image-213 size-large" src="https://swim.cloh.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/DSC02668-1024x768.jpg" alt="stack of paddle" width="525" height="394" /> Paddles ready for the water. What are the things that help make you move?<h3>Big teams and big dreams come by the dozen</h3><img class="wp-image-214 size-large" src="https://swim.cloh.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/DSC02670-1024x768.jpg" alt="canoes on a dock" width="525" height="394" /> Boats in an organized fleet.